Lighted path system for vehicle

• US 10,391,929 B1
• Filed: 08/20/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ficosa North America Corporation (Ficosa Inversion, Sl)
• Original Assignee: Ficosa North America Corporation (Ficosa Inversion, Sl)
• Inventors: McNabb, Patrick Aaron, Hellin Navarro, Sergio, Schmidt, Nicholas Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diaz, Jose M
• Application Number:
  US16/105,652
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/245 Searchlights, e.g. adjustable from within the vehicle adjustable headlights B60Q1/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/657 by moving light sources

Abstract

A vehicle illumination system for illuminating a path to a vehicle may include a light mechanism arranged on the vehicle, at least one antenna configured to detect a unique device of an approaching user; and at least one controller. The controller may be configured to determine a user location based on the detected unique device, predict the path based at least in part on the user location, and instruct the light mechanism to illuminate an area along the path.

Claims

1. A vehicle illumination system for illuminating a path to a vehicle, comprising:

a light mechanism arranged on the vehicle;

at least one antenna configured to detect a unique device of an approaching user; and

at least one controller configured to;

determine a user location based on the detected unique device,

predict the path based at least in part on the user location, and

instruct the light mechanism to illuminate an area along the path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a subsequent user location and instruct the light mechanism to illuminate a subsequent area along the path based on the subsequent user location.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a predicted user speed based on the subsequent user location and instruct the light mechanism to iteratively illuminate the area along the path consistent with the user speed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the light mechanism includes a plurality of light mechanisms, and wherein each of the light mechanisms is configured to illuminate a portion of the predicted path.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the light mechanism includes at least one of a laser, laser diode, and light emitting diode (LED).

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to instruct a subset of the light mechanisms to activate, wherein the subset of light mechanisms correspond to a portion of the predicted path.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the light mechanism includes a light source operably connected to a driver, the light source being moveable at at least one axis via the driver.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the driver to move the light source to illuminate the area along the path.

9. A method for providing an illumination area between a vehicle and a user, comprising:

detecting the user within an area of the vehicle;

determining a user location based on communication with a unique device associated with the user;

predicting a path to the vehicle based at least in part on the user location; and

instructing a light mechanism to illuminate the area along the path.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a subsequent user location and instructing the light mechanism to illuminate a subsequent area along the path based on the subsequent user location.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a user speed based on the subsequent user location and instructing the light mechanism to iteratively illuminate the area along the path consistent with the user speed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the light mechanism includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and wherein each of the LEDs is configured to illuminate a portion of the predicted path.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising instructing a subset of the LEDs to illuminate, wherein the subset of LEDs correspond to the predicted path that includes the user location.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the light mechanism includes a plurality of lasers, and wherein each of the lasers is configured to illuminate a portion of the predicted path.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising instructing a subset of the lasers to activate, wherein the subset of lasers correspond to the predicted path.

16. A vehicle illumination system, comprising:

a light mechanism arranged on a vehicle;

at least one antenna configured to detect a unique device of an approaching user; and

at least one controller configured to;

determine a first user location based on the detected unique device,

predict a path between the user and the vehicle based at least in part on the first user location,

instruct the light mechanism to illuminate a first area along the path,

determine a second user location based on the detected unique device,

instruct the light mechanism to illuminate a second area along the path.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a user speed based on the first and second user locations and instruct the light mechanism to iteratively illuminate the second area along the path consistent with the user speed.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the light mechanism includes a plurality of light mechanisms configured to illuminate a portion of the predicted path.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to instruct a subset of the LEDs to illuminate, wherein the subset of LEDs correspond to the LEDs configured to illuminate the portion of the predicted path that includes the user location.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the light mechanism includes a light source operably connected to a driver, the light source being moveable at at least one axis via the driver, and wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the driver to move the light source to illuminate the second area.